Sometimes the hardest part of change is figuring out how to put all the pieces together and make sure that all the other pieces stay happy.
When you’re a family and you’re dealing with the moments that build lives, adding moments that weren’t expected in – can sometimes feel overwhelming and confusing. For Daniel, Diego, and Hannah – they love Izzy, but for them giving up their space and moments is a scary thing.
It’s a thing that makes them feel a little desperate to hang onto their safety, space, and sanctuary. And for all of these kids, they don’t know what is happening – just that Izzy is changing everything. But in the midst of that they’ve lost something important – remembering what they’ve had all along.
So far, Izzy’s been in Punky’s room, but it’s not working out. They aren’t getting sleep. Izzy’s a wild sleeper and it’s causing Punky to sleep on the floor.
While the family is working out the kinks – kids are getting upset. Their routines are screwed up, they are thinking everything is an emergency and they are acting out by texting their Dad, 911 texts. Only the texts are over stupid shit – like no bacon being left for them.
Kinks are definitely having to be worked out. And hey – that’s not easy.
Punky’s kids don’t want to give up their space and sanctuaries, but they aren’t realizing just what effect that it will have on on Izzy. When Punky tries to tell them that Izzy needs a space, they all run.
It’s kinda infuriating how you see them act – as if Izzy is an inconvenience. Sure, you know they all love her, but they aren’t seeing the big picture. They aren’t seeing that for Izzy she has nothing. She’s not sure of where she belongs.
All they think about is that they should just move to a bigger place and basically that would solve all the problems. They don’t get what that would cost their Mom. They don’t get how much money that would cost. They don’t get what moving would be.
They are acting like spoiled kids.
But Punky isn’t thinking about all of that. She wants to give Izzy something that is hers so she spends the day putting together a dresser for Izzy. It’s important because Izzy doesn’t have anything that is just hers. And she needs for Izzy to feel at home.
And so when the boys get home – Daniel is like Mom, pay attention. Diego is taking advantage of every moment of Punky being distracted. Though for Daniel it’s a little more traumatic because he’s used to being the baby.
And now he’s a middle child.
Izzy is so excited over the dresser. She’s never had anything that is her own. She doesn’t want anyone arguing over her and says she’ll just sleep in the dresser. How these kids can’t feel like assholes, I don’t know.
But what I thought was great parenting was that Punky decided she was going to teach her kids just how well they had it. Sure, she tricked them by getting the car, saying they were going to look at a new place.
When the kids are told that they are going to be sleeping in the car – they flip out. They act like they are being punished, when the reality is that they still have it better than a lot of kids out there. They are safe. They are taken care of. They have food. They have shelter.
They don’t realize that they have it well, cause they’ve never had it different.
In comes Travis – which let me say, I commend his parenting, because when his kids need him – he’s there. Hannah texts him 911 over Punky making them sleep in the car. He asks what is going on and Punky explains it to him. And he steps up and tells them that he’s staying with them.
And I respect that.
See, he could run. He’s been the cool parent. And Hannah reminds him that he’s supposed to be the cool parent. He doesn’t take it well when she says that, but he knows they need to be a united unit on this.
And so when Izzy tells them that she’s slept in a car before, you would think that would be enough to make them realize what they have. But they really start to pay attention when Punky tells them that she used to sleep in cars. And it’s then they start to realize that shit is real and they’ve been selfish.
Not that we didn’t know that was coming.
But I like the way that this family comes together. They may be separated, but the all have each others back. They all know that it doesn’t matter what is happening – they have each other.
The kids are learning how to cope and when they all go back inside, and gather on the couch. The thing is Punky and Travis should be proud of the kids that they have raised.
I look forward to the relationship that will evolve between Hannah and Izzy. Your sister is an important part of who you become.
OTHER THOUGHTS
Remember how episode one ended with Punky’s mom calling. Well we learn more about it – and I am a little confused. Punky is going through a lot of feelings about the situation.
She’s always thought that she would know what to say if he Mom called. She thought she had all of it figured out. But she’s had nothing figured out – because she didn’t know what to say when it actually happened.
Cherie says that the only excuse she’d accept is alien abduction, but she’s their for her best friend. But Travis is a good man, he tells her that he will be there for her. He tells her that he will always have her back.
And I love seeing this connection between the two of them. They put the welfare of their children above all and know that a relationship between the two of them is important for their kids well being.
I can’t wait to see what happens with Punky’s mom. I think it’s important and something that we’ve waited to see throughout Punky’s life. I don’t know what will happen but I am here for it.
